Growth Operators

AI Isn’t the Problem. Disconnected Intelligence Is. 📊 Private equity firms are adopting AI across diligence, portfolio monitoring, market intelligence, and operating reviews. Yet despite more tools than ever, value creation is still hard to see and even harder to prove. The issue is not automation. It is not access. It is synthesis. In our latest article, Rob Silas, Managing Director of Decision Intelligence and AI, breaks down why PE leaders are shifting away from incremental AI efficiencies and focusing instead on transformation that changes enterprise value, not just reporting speed. Here is what firms are starting to ask: • Are AI insights connected, or just adding more data silos? • Can leadership answer “what should we do?” without building a deck each time? • Do portfolio companies share an AI framework, or operate independently with no learnings transferred? • Are tools improving decisions, or simply generating more information? • How do we showcase AI-driven value at exit, not just tool adoption? PE does not win on efficiency. It wins on strategy, clarity, and decision velocity. 💡 Read the full article to see why integrated decision intelligence, not point solutions, is becoming the real competitive advantage in private equity: https://lnkd.in/gW4q4mGd If you’re a PE firm wrestling with how to move from AI experimentation to execution, or struggling to synthesize insights from multiple tools into coherent decisions, let’s talk. https://lnkd.in/gbBdTg43 The firms winning with AI aren’t the ones with the most tools—they’re the ones with the clearest framework. #PrivateEquity #AITransformation #DecisionIntelligence #ValueCreation #PortfolioLeadership #GrowthOperators #MiddleMarket #PEInsights

Retention Starts with Clarity and Communication 💬 In today’s labor market, employees expect transparency. They want to understand how they’re compensated, how they benefit from employer investments, and how their package compares to alternatives. Yet most still don’t see the full value of what they receive. In our latest article, we explain how Total Rewards Statements help organizations close this visibility gap and strengthen engagement in four major ways: • Increasing perceived compensation value • Building trust during organizational change • Strengthening the employer value proposition • Reinforcing culture and organizational investment We also break down what HR teams should include in a modern Total Rewards Statement, and how fractional HR leaders can help build scalable, tech-enabled solutions that simplify communication and improve retention at every stage of the employee lifecycle. 📌 Explore the full article to see how Total Rewards can become one of your most powerful HR tools: https://lnkd.in/g7u4gPqT #HRLeadership #EmployeeRetention #TotalRewards #PeopleOperations #FractionalHR #MidMarket #GrowthOperators

The Financial Readiness Buyers Look For 💼 Private equity exits move fast, and buyers expect more financial precision than ever. Many mid-market portfolio companies enter this stage with stretched teams, inconsistent reporting, and limited capacity to prepare for buyer diligence. The result is often delayed timelines, lower valuation, or unnecessary risk adjustments. Our latest blog breaks down how fractional CFOs help companies close this gap and enter diligence with confidence. Experienced fractional leaders strengthen the areas buyers scrutinize most: • Investor-grade financials supported by clean, consistent data • Preparation for the quality of earnings process • Forecasts grounded in operational reality and scenario planning • A financial narrative that highlights growth and margin drivers • Stronger working capital and cash conversion discipline • Improved systems, controls, and documentation Growth Operators also applies a team-based model and the nextLEVEL framework to benchmark finance maturity, identify gaps early, and guide management through every step of buyer Q and A. If exit readiness is unclear or the finance function is stretched thin, the leadership gap may be the risk holding back valuation. 📌 Read the full blog to see how fractional CFOs strengthen outcomes in private equity exits: https://lnkd.in/gXVqAQ-R #FractionalCFO #FinanceLeadership #PrivateEquity #ExitReadiness #MiddleMarket #BusinessStrategy #GrowthOperators

The Value Gap in AI 🤖 Companies are adopting AI faster than ever, but very few are seeing the business value they expected. The problem is not access to AI tools. The problem is the strategy behind them. In our latest article, Rob Silas, our Managing Director of Decision Intelligence and AI, explains why traditional tech playbooks no longer fit a world where anyone can open ChatGPT or Copilot and start working instantly. He breaks down what companies actually need to focus on to turn everyday AI usage into real, measurable outcomes. Here’s what the most successful organizations prioritize: • Clear decisions they want AI to improve • Documented workflows instead of tribal knowledge • Decision intelligence frameworks, not tool-first thinking • Fast, practical implementations that show value in 60 to 90 days • Guidance on what works versus what is hype If AI adoption is high but results are unclear, the issue may not be the technology. It may be the approach. 📈 Read the full article from an experienced Decision Intelligence leader, to learn what the 5 percent of successful AI teams do differently: https://lnkd.in/e2qMmJq4 #AIStrategy #DecisionIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #MiddleMarket #BusinessStrategy #GrowthOperators #CFOInsights #PrivateEquity #Leadership

Build a Workforce That Can Scale With Confidence 🧩 Workforce planning is shifting from a once-a-year exercise to a continuous discipline that helps organizations stay ahead of change. HR leaders are being asked to anticipate talent needs earlier, reduce turnover risks, and align people strategy with fast-moving business goals. Our latest blog breaks down how strong workforce planning helps organizations: • Prepare for acquisitions, new markets, and strategy shifts • Use data-driven forecasting to predict turnover and staffing needs • Build flexible people plan templates that adapt as conditions change • Strengthen retention through compensation benchmarking and clear career paths • Align HR and finance to support better, faster decisions Companies that plan ahead strengthen culture, protect performance, and set themselves up for long-term value creation. 🔎 Read the full blog to see how HR leaders are building future-ready workforce strategies: https://lnkd.in/gPAZYTMY #WorkforcePlanning #HRLeadership #PeopleStrategy #TalentManagement #FutureReady #BusinessGrowth #MiddleMarket #PrivateEquity #GrowthOperators

Celebrating Connections at ACG New York’s Annual Wine Gala 🍷 Tomorrow night, we’re joining hundreds of dealmaking professionals for an unforgettable evening of fine wine and high-value networking in the heart of New York City. As sponsors, we’re thrilled to be part of an event that brings together leaders shaping today’s middle-market landscape, all while enjoying curated Burgundy selections at tasting tables throughout the venue. Swing by the Growth Operators wine table to meet our team and explore the wines we’re pouring. It’s the perfect way to kick off a great conversation! Attending from Growth Operators: • Rick Nordvold, Co-Founder & CEO — [email protected] • Molly Hiller, Co-Founder & President — [email protected] • Joe Donahoe, VP Business Development — [email protected] #GrowthOperators #ACGNY #MiddleMarket #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #Networking #WineGala #Dealmakers